Jeev slips off lead to 2nd spot, Wie misses cut

Kochi, Japan, Nov 24 (UNI) Overnight joint leader Jeev Milkha Singh dropped two shots on his front nine to slip to the second spot, while teenage sensation Michelle Wie's bid to make the cut in the men's tournament came a cropper at the halfway stage of the Casio World Open here today.

Wie, the Honolulu school girl, missed the cut for the 11th time in 12 professional men's events after a nervous 80 left her at 17-over 161.

Wie needed a miracle of sort after equalling her worst score in a men's event with a nine-over 81 yesterday.

Jeev began well, picking up a shot in the opening hole and sinking in another birdie on the seventh but bogeys on the fourth and eighth pulled him back and the Indian took the turn at level-par.

His backward journey was a bogey-free affair and a treble of birdies on the 11th, 12th and 18th took his two-day tally to nine-under 135 to stay in the hunt for his maiden Japan Tour title.

Overnight leader Tetsuya Haraguchi fired a four-under 68 to grab the sole lead at 10-under 134.

UNI XC AY DH BS1321